Common mistakes in UK visa application and how to avoid them
A properly prepared visa application is no longer a choice. With the alarming rate of visa denial in Nigeria, it is vital that you take your visa application seriously. You should be watchful of the common mistakes in UK visa applications and try to avoid them.
As much as the UK visa application is straightforward, people often make mistakes. Some of them are huge while the others are slight. But, any of these mistakes can prevent you from getting your visa and traveling to the UK.
From experience, these are some of the common mistakes people make in UK visa applications. Read through to find out what they are and how to avoid them.
- Visiting a different submission center on the appointment date
It is common for naïve applicants to go to a different submission center other than the one they chose. Bear in mind that TLScontact handles the UK visa application centers in Nigeria. And these centers are in three locations: Lagos Ikeja, Lagos Victoria Island, and Abuja.
Before booking an appointment online, you have to choose one of these three. Pay attention to the center that you have selected when booking an appointment date. Prioritize the nearness of a center to your home address when choosing any. Then visit this center on your submission date.
TLScontact officials will not accept your documents if you visit a different appointment center. This means the forfeiture of your visa fees and any other added service charges. To check for the submission center in your location, please click here
- Using an invalid hotel booking
It pays to book a valid hotel reservation and use it for your UK visa application. The UK immigration authorities ask for the address and telephone number of a hotel in the UK application form. These are important information for your visa application (especially if you do not have a host that is inviting you over to the UK).
Getting a valid and legit reservation will boost your application since the UK embassy will verify if your reservation is valid. Talk to us at Flyibat to help book your hotel and flight for your UK visa application. Click here to get a valid hotel booking
- Not getting permission from a UK contact before using them as hosts
Also of the mistakes in UK Visa Application is that Some people wrongly assume that they can use their friends or relatives as those inviting them without getting these people’s permission. And they go-ahead to write invitation letters on these people’s behalf.
Meanwhile, the UK embassy usually calls whoever is sending an invitation letter to a Nigerian applicant. They find out if this person truly sent the invitation letter and is aware of the visa applicant’s travel dates.
If you use people’s details without informing them ahead, they may not respond to the inquiries from the UK immigration. Since they do not expect anything of such.
- Submitting documents with inconsistent names
For both personal and family UK visa applications, ensure that all names are consistent. For example, although the name Wale is the shortened form of Adewale, the two are not the same official purposes. So, get a sworn affidavit to confirm that the different names refer to the same person to avoid complications.
- Lying about previous visa denials
Lying about your previous UK or Ireland visa refusal leads to visa refusal. Instead, endeavor to mention your previous refusals and explain the reasons for them.
There is no way for you to lie about any UK or Ireland visa refusal and get away with it. Because the UK immigration department has recorded (spanning over 15 years) of previous applications.
Fortunately, you can talk about these refusals without it costing you your visa for this present application. Since the UK government is more concerned about your present conditions. Especially if these conditions are now different from the ones that led to your denial the last time.
- Failure to submit adequate documents/submitting documents with incomplete information
The idea of a visa application is to present all the documents that are relevant to your purpose of visit. These documents help you convince the visa officers that you deserve to get a visa and travel abroad.
Some documents prove that you have enough money to fund your travel expense and lifestyle in the UK. While others establish your social ties to Nigeria and your motivation to return home before your visa expires.
Depending on your travel purpose and profile, you must submit your application form, international passport, bank statement, employment letter, and company introduction letter. The company introduction letter has to be complete to count.
For example, the letter should include your position in the company, your period of leave, and your expected resumption date. Your office has to print the letter on the company letterhead paper as well. This is to show that the company’s contact information is consistent with the ones on your application form.
For more on the documents to include in your application, speak to our visa expert at Flyibat. We would analyze your profile and recommend documents that will help your application.
- Failure to fill the UK application form correctly
The UK application form has certain technical areas where the answers you provide could strengthen or weaken your application. For example, you must provide your travel and monthly expense. You do not just fabricate these answers; there are actual calculations that you make and certain things that you have to consider before filling these details out.
- Asking novices/fraudsters to guide you in your application
The biggest mistake applicants make when applying for a UK visa is that they ask novices for advice. They assume that being a frequent traveler automatically qualifies someone as a visa expert. But in reality, visa rules change from time to time and only travel consultants can help analyze your application.
Sadly, there are many fraudsters today who pose as visa experts. You can avoid making common mistakes people make in a UK visa application when you engage a professional travel consultant. Engaging a professional will help you save time, money, and energy.
Flyibat is committed to helping travelers achieve their dreams of traveling around the world. Contact us today for your UK visa application.